Sparks of the New Fire

The myth

The New Fire Ceremony, Toxiuhmolpilia, marked the end of a 52-year cycle. In the days before, every fire was put out, household goods were broken and people fasted, fearing the end of the world. At midnight on Huixachtlan hill, priests kindled a new flame with a fire drill, and torches were carried from it to temples and homes. Xiuhtecuhtli, the fire god, presided over the festival. This card’s sparks are the first sparks of that new fire, which assured that the sun would rise again.

Why it has this power

A Common spell that deals 600 direct damage to your opponent, bypassing monsters and defenses. It is the new flame that “asks no permission”: it flares up and burns. Useful to finish a close duel or chip at your rival’s life when the field is locked. It fits the fire theme of Huitzilopochtli and the Rite of the New Fire.

Did you know

The new fire was kindled on the chest of a sacrificed captive, and the last ceremony before the conquest took place in 1507.

Connections

• In Tlali, Calmécac Student's deck
• In Cuauhtli, Lake Hunter's deck
• In Citlali, Priestess of the Stars's deck
• In Itzel, Guardian of the Fifth Sun's deck
• In Kaelmyr, Devourer of Pantheons's deck

Where to get it

• Comes in every duelist's starter deck.
• Daily Offering: 0% per pack (Common 64% per card)
• Welcome Pack: 0.97% per pack (Common 70% per card)
• Traveler's Pack: 0.88% per pack · 5.2% in the themed pack (Common 64% per card)
• Bronze Reliquary: 0.86% per pack · 5.1% in the themed pack (Common 62% per card)
• Silver Reliquary: 0.67% per pack · 4% in the themed pack (Common 49% per card)
• Golden Reliquary: 0.46% per pack · 2.7% in the themed pack (Common 33% per card)
• Daily Showcase: Shows up on about 0.69% of days · 150 gold
• Craft with card dust: 40 dust
• Crossing of Myths: Can be offered as a reward during a crossing (the card stays in the crossing deck).

Sources

1. Xiuhtecuhtli: The Aztec God of Fire — World History Encyclopedia — Mark Cartwright
2. Huehuetéotl-Xiuhtecuhtli, dios del fuego (Arqueología Mexicana) — Eduardo Matos Moctezuma
3. Nemontemi, “días baldíos”. Abismos periódicos del tiempo indígena (Arqueología Mexicana) — Patrick Johansson K.